Google Pixel Buds • Hacker News Board

Re: Google Pixel Buds

#331

Post by JohnTHaller » Tue, Apr 28, 2020, 7:40 PM UTC

crazygringo wrote: post #155

I'm very happy to see better competition with Apple's AirPods. And visually, these look fantastic -- distinct but just as tasteful. The lack of active noise cancellation still seems to leave Google a "generation behind" here, but playing catch-up is still a great thing. But more than anything, I'm fascinated by the "Adaptive Sound" mode. Seriously, for years I've wanted my headphones (and laptop speakers) to auto-adj…

Lacking active noise cancellation doesn't leave them a generation behind. They're aimed at the Airpods not the Airpod Pros given both feature-set and price. Honestly, these are between the Airpod and Airpod Pro in terms noise cancelling and sound. Google can add a Pro model at a higher price point to compete with the Airpod Pros if they'd like.

Google Pixel Buds: $179, passive* noise cancellation

Apple Airpods: $200, no noise cancellation

Apple Airpods Pro: $250, passive* + active noise cancellation

* For the confused, passive noise cancellation in earbuds is when they form a seal with your ear canal to block external sounds. The Google Pixel Buds do this with the different sized silicon sleeves they include, just like the Airpod Pros do. Active noise cancellation is when the headphones have microphones that sample outside noise and feed an inverse sound wave to your ears to cancel out the external sounds.

Re: Google Pixel Buds

#332

Post by GuB-42 » Tue, Apr 28, 2020, 7:42 PM UTC

kernelbugs wrote: post #136

Does anyone else really struggle with comfort when using headphones which go into the ear canal (IEMs)? I know there is better sound isolation, but for some reason I cannot stand the minor pressure of them in my ears.

I don't really have that problem but I noticed that tips that fit help a lot. They are usually interchangeable and come in several sizes.

In my case, the most comfortable tips came from a no-name cheap pair. So I guess it is one area where fit is more important than anything else.

Re: Google Pixel Buds

#333

Post by jedberg » Tue, Apr 28, 2020, 7:52 PM UTC

crazygringo wrote: post #155

I'm very happy to see better competition with Apple's AirPods. And visually, these look fantastic -- distinct but just as tasteful. The lack of active noise cancellation still seems to leave Google a "generation behind" here, but playing catch-up is still a great thing. But more than anything, I'm fascinated by the "Adaptive Sound" mode. Seriously, for years I've wanted my headphones (and laptop speakers) to auto-adj…

Something I've noticed recently as I'm watching all of these specials on TV with celebrities at home.

Almost every one of them is using an AirPod.

I was shocked at just how many celebrities are using AirPods for these (theoretically) high production shows.

I noticed that SNL seems to have switched from AirPods in week one to pro lav mics this week, but otherwise it seems like everyone already owned the AirPods.

It'll be interesting to see if Google can eat some of their market share.

Re: Google Pixel Buds

#334

Post by valuearb » Tue, Apr 28, 2020, 8:01 PM UTC

JohnTHaller wrote: post #331

crazygringo wrote: post #155

I'm very happy to see better competition with Apple's AirPods. And visually, these look fantastic -- distinct but just as tasteful. The lack of active noise cancellation still seems to leave Google a "generation behind" here, but playing catch-up is still a great thing. But more than anything, I'm fascinated by the "Adaptive Sound" mode. Seriously, for years I've wanted my headphones (and laptop speakers) to auto-adj…

Lacking active noise cancellation doesn't leave them a generation behind. They're aimed at the Airpods not the Airpod Pros given both feature-set and price. Honestly, these are between the Airpod and Airpod Pro in terms noise cancelling and sound. Google can add a Pro model at a higher price point to compete with the Airpod Pros if they'd like. Google Pixel Buds: $179, passive* noise cancellation Apple Airpods: $200,…

AirPods are $149, not $200.

Also you can add passive sound filtering sleeves to them.

Re: Google Pixel Buds

#335

Post by gamblor956 » Tue, Apr 28, 2020, 8:13 PM UTC

crazygringo wrote: post #176

a254613e wrote: post #4

What's up with google and their inability to: A. Launch products, both software and hardware, worldwide (or at least majority of countries). B. Launch products with clear dates and not just "Join a waiting list". At least in German store that's the only option.

Do you realize how insanely hard that actually is to do? It's not like you just localize some webpages and add a currency option to your payment. You've got to deal with certification, taxes, customs, warehousing, shipping partners, warranties, refund, and all with wildly varying levels of government agency cooperation and efficiency. Apple is the only consumer company I know of who does this well, because it's their…

It's not rocket science. It's what every other company making consumer goods for the international market is capable of handling, and many of them are 1/10000th the size of Google.

Google has the resources to do better, so let's stop making excuses every time they fuck up the execution of a product launch because they're too cheap to do it right.

Re: Google Pixel Buds

#336

Post by 1_player » Tue, Apr 28, 2020, 8:17 PM UTC

kernelbugs wrote: post #136

Does anyone else really struggle with comfort when using headphones which go into the ear canal (IEMs)? I know there is better sound isolation, but for some reason I cannot stand the minor pressure of them in my ears.

No earbuds fit me, though I don't see anything immediately wrong with my ears.

I use IEM because the regular old plastic ones that sit in the ear give me actual physical pain after 5 minutes of them just sitting there, it's incredible. And the only brand of IEM that don't fall off are BOSE ones, which are oval shaped and have that little stability wing like these ones from Google.

Re: Google Pixel Buds

#337

Post by tfehring » Tue, Apr 28, 2020, 8:35 PM UTC

crazygringo wrote: post #155

I'm very happy to see better competition with Apple's AirPods. And visually, these look fantastic -- distinct but just as tasteful. The lack of active noise cancellation still seems to leave Google a "generation behind" here, but playing catch-up is still a great thing. But more than anything, I'm fascinated by the "Adaptive Sound" mode. Seriously, for years I've wanted my headphones (and laptop speakers) to auto-adj…

IMO the real killer feature of AirPods is that they seamlessly "just work" when pairing, switching devices, taking them out, etc., and it's vanishingly unlikely that Google got this right.

Re: Google Pixel Buds

#338

Post by dmix » Tue, Apr 28, 2020, 9:06 PM UTC

Looks like a hearing aid.

Re: Google Pixel Buds

#339

Post by banachtarski » Tue, Apr 28, 2020, 9:09 PM UTC

tfehring wrote: post #337

crazygringo wrote: post #155

I'm very happy to see better competition with Apple's AirPods. And visually, these look fantastic -- distinct but just as tasteful. The lack of active noise cancellation still seems to leave Google a "generation behind" here, but playing catch-up is still a great thing. But more than anything, I'm fascinated by the "Adaptive Sound" mode. Seriously, for years I've wanted my headphones (and laptop speakers) to auto-adj…

IMO the real killer feature of AirPods is that they seamlessly "just work" when pairing, switching devices, taking them out, etc., and it's vanishingly unlikely that Google got this right.

Typical fanboy comment. If you don’t have the information to make an informed comparison, don’t attempt one

Re: Google Pixel Buds

#340

Post by a254613e » Tue, Apr 28, 2020, 9:12 PM UTC

crazygringo wrote: post #176

a254613e wrote: post #4

What's up with google and their inability to: A. Launch products, both software and hardware, worldwide (or at least majority of countries). B. Launch products with clear dates and not just "Join a waiting list". At least in German store that's the only option.

Do you realize how insanely hard that actually is to do? It's not like you just localize some webpages and add a currency option to your payment. You've got to deal with certification, taxes, customs, warehousing, shipping partners, warranties, refund, and all with wildly varying levels of government agency cooperation and efficiency. Apple is the only consumer company I know of who does this well, because it's their…

Even ignoring the fact that google has the resources to pull this off easily. In countries where they already have all of that set up, because they sell other products, these issues still exist.

Selling a newer version of a product in a country where the old version is already being sold is not an issue for small companies, and it shouldn't be for google.

I have never had any issues buying Samsung, OnePlus, Apple, or any other brand devices no matter the device category.

In fact last time I wanted to buy a google device (the original pixel phone) I was on the waitlist for almost 2 months before I walked to the apple store and bought an iPhone - and I'm sure I'm not the only one.